Salvia plant named ‘Florsalbro’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Salvia  cultivar named ‘Florsalbro’ is disclosed, characterized by a compact form, early flowering and abundant dark rose colored flowers. The new variety is a  Salvia , normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Salvia nemerosa.

Variety denomination: ‘Florsalbro’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Salvia cultivar is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventor, Tobias Bräunig, in Quedlinburg, Germany. Theobjective of the breeding program was to produce new Salvia varietieswith denser plant habits, strong garden performance, in a range offlower colors. The open pollination resulting in this new variety wasmade during Summer of 2010.

The seed parent is an unpatented, proprietary, Salvia nemerosa. Thepollen parent is unknown as it was an open pollination breeding program.The new variety was identified as a potentially interesting selection inSummer 2011, at a greenhouse in Quedlinburg, Germany.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘Florsalbro’ by vegetativecuttings was first performed during 2011, at a research greenhouse inQuedlinburg, Germany. Subsequent propagation has shown that the uniquefeatures of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type onsuccessive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Florsalbro’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Florsalbro’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Florsalbro’ as a new and distinct Salviacultivar:

-   -   1. Dark rose flower color.    -   2. Compact plant form.    -   3. Abundant flowering.    -   4. Early flowering.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Florsalbro’ are similar to plants of theseed parent, in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants ofthe new cultivar ‘Florsalbro’ differ in the following:

-   -   1. Dark rose flower color. The seed parent has a light rose        colored flower.    -   2. More vigorous growth rate.    -   3. More abundant flowering.    -   4. Earlier flowering.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Florsalbro’ can also be compared to thecommercial variety Salvia ‘Mainacht“, unpatented. These varieties aresimilar in most horticultural characteristics; however ‘Florsalbro’differs in the following:

-   -   1. More compact plant.    -   2. More inflorescences per plant.    -   3. Deeper bright rose color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘Florsalbro’, shown in an 8 inch commercial container.

FIG. 2 illustrates in full color typical flowers ‘Florsalbro’.

Plants were grown in a greenhouse. Santa Paula. Calif., in a commercial8 inch container.

Age of the plant photographed is approximately 16 weeks from an unrootedcutting.

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and althoughcolors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectanceit is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart 2007 except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘Florsalbro’ plants grown in a greenhouse inSanta Paula, Calif. The growing temperature ranged from approximately10° C. to 30° C. The greenhouse is un-shaded, giving bright, normalsunlight conditions. Measurements and numerical values representaverages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Salvia nemerosa ‘Florsalbro’.

PROPAGATION

-   Root description: Fine, densely fibrous. Colors include Green-White    157D on new growth and Orange-White 159C, Grey-Brown 199B and 199C    for older roots.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Upright perennial.-   Pot size of plant described: 1 gallon pot.-   Height: Approximately 32 cm to top of foliage. Approximately 48 cm    to top of flowering plane. Measured from soil level of pot.-   Plant spread: Approximately 50 cm.-   Growth rate: Rapid.-   Branching characteristics: Moderately well branched. Approximately 6    to 8 primary branches per plant.-   Length of primary lateral branches: Approximately 28 cm.-   Diameter of lateral branches: Approximately 0.35 cm.-   Quantity of lateral branches: About 18 to 24.-   Stem:    -   -   Color.—Near RHS Green 138A.        -   Texture.—Minute pubescence and ribbed.-   Internode length: Average 5.5 cm.-   Age of plant described: Approximately 20 weeks from 3 rooted    cuttings.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Quantity.—Approximately 12 fully expanded per main branch.        -   Average length.—Approximately 8.2 cm., including petiole.        -   Average width.—Approximately 3.3 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Deltoid.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Truncate.        -   Attachment.—Stalked.        -   Margin.—Crenate.        -   Texture of top surface.—Matte, glabrous.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Matte, glabrous, reticulate.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 137A. Young            foliage under side: Near RHS Green 137D. Mature foliage            upper side: Near RHS Green 137A. Mature foliage under side:            Near RHS Green 138B.        -   Venation.—Type: Reticulate. Venation color upper side: Near            RHS Yellow-Green 145B. Venation color under side: Near RHS            Green 139D.        -   Petiole.—Average Length: Approximately 0.9 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 0.1 cm. Color: Near RHS Green 139D.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: Flowering from early Spring through late    Summer.-   Inflorescence type and habit: Flowers arranged in verticillasters on    spikes.-   Flower longevity on plant: Individual flowers last approximately 2    to 3 days on the plant. Each spike lasts approximately 4 weeks with    flowers.-   Quantity of flowers: About 12 buds and 20 fully opened flowers per    spike, at one time. Mature plants have approximately 20 to 30    spikes.-   Spike size:    -   -   Diameter.—Approximately 1.5 cm.        -   Height.—Approximately 12.0 cm.-   Individual flowers:-   Size:    -   -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.9 cm.        -   Length.—Approximately 1.7 cm.        -   Persistence.—Non-persistent.        -   Fragrance.—Faint.-   Corolla:    -   -   Petal arrangement.—The corolla is sympetalous and typically            bilabiate with 2 small, fully fused lobes forming a single,            curved upper lip and 3 larger fused lobes forming a lower            lip.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Tip shape.—Upper lip tip obtuse, lower lip tip retuse.        -   Length.—Upper lip Approximately 0.8 cm. lower lip            Approximately 0.5 cm. Tube length Approximately 0.5 cm.        -   Width.—Upper lip Approximately 0.25 cm, lower lip            Approximately 0.5 cm. Tube width Approximately 0.2 cm.        -   Texture.—Upper lip: Glabrous all surfaces.        -   Lower lip.—Glabrous all surfaces.-   Color:    -   -   Upper lip.—When opening: Inner surface: Near RHS Red-Purple            68B. Outer surface: Near RHS Red-Purple 68B. Fully opened:            Inner surface: Near RHS Red-Purple 73C. Outer surface: Near            RHS Red-Purple 73A. Fading: Inner surface: Near RHS            Red-Purple N74D. Outer surface: Near RHS Red-Purple N74C.-   Color:    -   -   Lower lip.—When opening: Inner surface: Near RHS Red-Purple            N74B. Outer surface: Near RHS Purple N78B. Fully opened:            Inner surface: Near RHS Red-Purple 73B, Margin Red-Purple            64B. Outer surface: Near RHS Red-Purple 73B, Margin            Red-Purple N74B. Fading: Inner surface: Near RHS Red-Purple            72B. Outer surface: Near RHS Red-Purple 72C.-   Color:    -   -   Tube.—When opening: Inner surface: Near RHS White 155C.            Outer surface: Near RHS White 155C. Fully opened: Inner            surface: Near RHS White 155C. Outer surface: Near RHS White            155C. Fading: Inner surface: Near RHS White 155C. Outer            surface: Near RHS White 155C.-   Bud:    -   -   Shape.—Ovoid.        -   Length.—Approximately 0.6 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.3 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Red-Purple 72C.-   Calyx:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 0.6 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Tubular.-   Sepals:    -   -   Shape.—Quantity per flower: 3, fused to form a tube.        -   Unfused apex.—Length: Approximately 0.5 cm. Width:            Approximately 0.6 cm.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Texture.—Softly pubescent.        -   Color.—Immature: Near RHS Green 138A, heavily flushed Purple            N79A. Mature: Near RHS Green 137C, heavily flushed Purple            N79A.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—Average 1.8 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.4 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Green 137C, blotched with. Purple N79A.        -   Orientation.—Upright, straight.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Texture.—Softly pubescent, ridged.-   Pedicels:    -   -   Length.—Average 0.1 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.1 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Green 138A, heavily flushed Purple N79A.        -   Orientation.—Straight, approximately 45 degree angle from            attachment.        -   Strength.—Flexible.        -   Texture.—Pubescent.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:    -   -   Number.—2.        -   Filament length.—Approximately 0.6 cm.        -   Filament color.—Near RHS Red-Purple 73D.-   Anthers:    -   -   Shape.—Very narrowly elliptic.        -   Length.—Approximately 1 mm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Purple N79C.        -   Pollen.—Pollen production not observed.-   Pistil:    -   -   Number.—1.        -   Length.—Approximately 0.8 cm.        -   Style.—Length: Approximately 0.5 cm. Color: Near RHS            Red-Purple 73D.        -   Stigma.—Shape: Forked. Color: Near RHS Red-Purple 71A. Ovary            color: Near RHS Green 137B.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: Not observed to date.-   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    pathogens and pests common to Salvia nemerosa have been observed.-   Temperature tolerance: The new variety tolerates temperatures within    USDA zones 3 to 8.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Salvia plant named‘Florsalbro’ as herein illustrated and described.